Chéri Samba
Democratic Republic of Congo | Painting
Vivid paintings often featuring text that comment on Congolese society, politics, and daily life.
Exhibitions
Chéri Samba: Painting with the People
2004 - Museum for African Art, New York, USA
A major solo exhibition that brought international attention to Samba's work, showcasing his colorful, narrative paintings that often feature text and address social and political issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Purgatory and Hell Revisited by Contemporary African Artists
2014 - SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, USA
Group exhibition where Samba's work was featured alongside other prominent African artists, reinterpreting Dante's Divine Comedy through contemporary African perspectives.
Chéri Samba: Popular Painting
2002 - Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
This solo exhibition featured a comprehensive selection of Samba's works, emphasizing his unique style of popular painting, which combines vibrant colors, text, and social commentary.
Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent
2005 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
A landmark group exhibition that included Samba's work among other leading African contemporary artists, showcasing the diversity and dynamism of African art across multiple mediums.
The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945-1994
2001 - Museum Villa Stuck, Munich, Germany
Group exhibition that examined the impact of independence and liberation movements in Africa, with Samba's paintings reflecting the social and political changes in post-colonial Africa.
Chéri Samba: J'aime Chéri Samba
2007 - São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), São Paulo, Brazil
A solo exhibition featuring Samba's iconic works that blend personal narrative with broader social commentary, highlighting his distinctive use of text and vibrant imagery.
J'aime la couleur
2004 - Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, France
A major solo exhibition featuring Samba’s vibrant and socially charged paintings. The exhibition showcased his unique blend of text and imagery to address issues such as politics, everyday life in Congo, and global social issues.
Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent
2005 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Group exhibition that included Samba’s work alongside other leading African artists, showcasing the diversity of contemporary African art. Samba’s contributions highlighted his commentary on social and political issues in Africa.
Kinshasa: Tales of the Invisible City
2008 - Musée des Arts Derniers, Paris, France
A solo exhibition that delved into the urban life of Kinshasa, reflecting on the social dynamics, cultural expressions, and challenges faced by its inhabitants through Samba’s distinctive visual narrative style.
The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell Revisited by Contemporary African Artists
2014 - Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany
Group exhibition where Samba’s work was featured alongside other African artists, interpreting Dante’s "Divine Comedy" through an African perspective, with Samba’s pieces commenting on the socio-political landscapes of contemporary Africa.
Chéri Samba: Le Mouvement
2015 - Magnin-A Gallery, Paris, France
A solo exhibition focusing on Samba’s exploration of movement, both physical and social, in his work. The exhibition included pieces that addressed themes of migration, social mobility, and the dynamics of change within African societies.
Magiciens de la Terre
1989 - Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Samba gained international recognition through this groundbreaking exhibition, which sought to present non-Western art on equal footing with Western contemporary art. His works were celebrated for their vivid colors and their ability to comment on African social realities with a mix of humor and critique.